HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky volleyball dropped a four-set match to Green Bay in the regular-season finale on Saturday evening, 25-23, 25-20, 13-25, 25-20. The Norse will head into the Horizon League Championship as the No. 6 seed with a 7-9 record in League play and an 11-14 record overall, while Green Bay advances to 13-14 (9-7 HL).
First Set Summary
- Despite a higher hitting percentage (.200-.167), NKU dropped a tight first set, 25-23. Green Bay maintained a two-point advantage following the 13-11 mark until NKU took the lead off three-straight kills from Laura Crawford, Drew Hendricks and Bailey Western.
- Green Bay used back-to-back aces to get the edge again and capitalized on a Norse error to take the frame.
- Haley Libs recorded five kills with a .455 hitting percentage to lead NKU's offense, and the Norse block was impeccable with seven rejections, led by Crawford and Gentile with four apiece.
Second Set Summary
- Once again, NKU kept pace with the Phoenix until Green Bay used a trio of errors to extend out to a 21-18 lead. The Norse got within two points, but committed another pair of miscues to give the win to Green Bay.
- Libs added three more kills, as did Gentile off four swings to go with three more blocks.
Third Set Summary
- The Norse came out of the intermission firing on all cylinders, hitting .308 and keeping Green Bay under 15 points in the third set. The Phoenix committed 11 hitting errors to hit -.059.
- Libs chipped in four more terminations at a .444 clip, while Hendricks, Western and Gentile each had two kills.
Fourth Set Summary
- After hitting negative in the third, Green Bay had its most efficient set of the match with 18 kills on a .341 clip.
- Green Bay's block contributed vital points, including the match winner at 24-20.
- Libs finished off the match with four more kills, along with five digs. Gentile added three on five swings.
Norse Notes
- Libs led all players with 16 kills and was just short of a double-double with nine digs. She also added three blocks.
- Gentile had the sixth double-digit kill match of her career, with 10, and was one off her career best with seven blocks.
- Crawford led the back row with 15 digs and was equally strong up front with six blocks and eight kills.
- Western added seven kills and five blocks, while Ashton Terrill had 13 digs.
- Shelby Olsen recorded her 15th career double-double with 41 assists and 12 digs.
- Overall, NKU hit .174 for the match, while Green Bay was not far behind at .172. The Norse also edged the Phoenix in digs, 64-61, and both teams recorded 12 blocks.
- NKU is now 6-4 all-time against Green Bay.
Up Next
- The Norse head into the Horizon League Tournament as the No. 6 seed, and will play No. 3 seed IUPUI at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. The tournament will be held in Cleveland after the Vikings won the regular-season title. If NKU advances, it will play Cleveland State in the semifinals on Saturday, as the Vikings play the lowest remaining seed in the tournament. All matches in the tournament will be broadcast on ESPN3 with streaming available on computers, tablets, smart phones and streaming devices through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
#TakeNotice
